Cylinder support and moving means for a rotary printing mechanism



E. D. NYSTRAND CYLINDER SUPPORT AND MOVING MEANS FOR A ROTARY PRINTING MEOHANISM Jan. 30, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 18, 1965 NVENTOR. ERNST D/NlEL NYSTRAND BY n l@ Jan; 3o, 1968 Filed Oct.

FIG. 2

E. D. NYSTRAND CYLINDER SUPPORT AND MOVING MEAN A ROTARY PRINTING MECHANISM S FOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA ERNST DANIEL NYSTRAND MWLWwMMgWgMS/mf@ NVENTOR.

ATT 'YS United States Patent Office 3,366,li49 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 3,366,049 CYLINDER SUPPORT AND MOVING MEANS FOR A ROTARY PRINTING MECHANISM Ernst Daniel Nystrand, Green Bay, Wis., assignor to Paper Converting Machine Co., Inc., Green Bay, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,086 2 Claims. (Cl. lOl- 247) This invention relates to a cylinder support and moving means for printing mechanism and, more particularly, to a break-away mechanism for the ink applicator portion thereof. The instant invention constitutes an improvement of my prior patent of the same title, No. 3,041,967 granted July 3, 1962.

An important object of the instant invention is to provide an improvement over the invention in my earlier patent, and, more particularly, a means for wiping clean the plate roll of a flexographic printing mechanism upon stopping ink supply to the plate cylinder.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the details of construction and operation set down in this specification.

The invention is explained in conjunction with `the accompanying drawing, in which* FIG. l is a fragmentary elevational view of a fiexographic printer incorporating teachings of this invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged fragmentary, partially schematic views of the break-away mechanism portion of the showing in FIG, 1; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram employed in the practice of the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated, the numeral designates generally a central impression cylinder which is journalled within a frame 11. The numeral 12 (see the upper central portion of FIG. l) designates the usual plate cylinder, while the numerals 13 and 14 designate generally, respectively, a transfer roll and fountain roll. The numeral 15 designates the ink fountain.

Operation generally Ink from the fountain 15 is picked up by the fountain roll 14 and applied to the transfer roll (sometimes termed Anilox roll) and from the transfer roll to the plate cylinder which bears the impression to be applied to a web traveling on the central impression cylinder.

To permit break-away or separation of the various rolls and cylinders attendant upon stoppage of printing, the frame 11 is equipped with a laterally movable subcarriage 16 which carries the rolls 13 and 14. The subcarriage 16 is slidably received Within a main carriage 17 which rotatably carries the plate cylinder 12. The numeral 18 designates generally a main cylinder and piston rod unit which is secured at one end to the frame 11 and the other end to the sub-carriage 16.

According to my prior patent when break-away was indicated, the main cylinder and piston rod unit 18 was energized so as to push the sub-carriage 16 away from the central impression cylinder. This was accomplished by eliminating gaps at A and B (still referring to FIG. 1). The elimination of the gap A introduced a gap in the previous kissing contact identified by the symbol c while the elimination of the gap B introduced a corresponding gap in the area designated in FIG. 1 by the symbol d. The resultant configuration is represented somewhat schematically in FIG. 2 where the plate cylinder 12 is seen to be spaced away from the impression cylinder 10, this being represented by the symbol B and the transfer roll is spaced away from the plate cylinder 12, this spacing being represented by the symbol C. In other words, in the foregoing description the lower case letters refer to contacts while the upper case symbols refer to gaps or spaces.

According to the invention here, I utilize an auxiliary cylinder and piston rod unit generally designated 19 which temporarily retards the development of the gap B until at least about one revolution of the plate cylinder 12kfollowing the establishing of the gap C. By this procedure, I insure that no ink is being transferred from the transfer roll 13 to the plate cylinder l2 while the last vestiges of ink on the plate cylinder 12 are being transferred to the material being printed on the central impression cylinder 10. After about one revolution of the plate cylinder 12, i.e., a pre-determined time, the auxiliary cylinder and piston rod unit 19 is de-energized whereupon the main cylinder and piston rod unit urges the snb-carriage 16 against the main carriage 17 to eliminate the gap B. The intermediate stage is depicted schematically in FIG. 3 and there it will be noted that the auxiliary cylinder and piston rod unit 19 is operating in a direction opposite to that of the main cylinder and piston rod unit 1S. In FIG. 2 which represents the completed breaknwayj the cylinder and piston rod units 18 and 19 both operate in the same direction.

For the .purpose of establishing the time delay necessary to wipe clean the plate cylinder, I utilize a wiring arrangement such as is depicted schematically in FIG. 4. For example, a line voltage such as volts is applied to a first circuit designated 20. The rst circuit 20 includes contacts 21 which are closed whenever the central impression cylinder 10 is rotating, i.e., by the main drive associated with the flexographic printer.. Proceeding to the right in the circuit designated 20, we next encounter a stop pushbutton 22 which is employed for initiating the break-way procedure. Arranged in series with the elements 21 and 22 is a second pushbutton 23 which is employed on start-up and when the pushbutton 23 is energized, current flows through the elements: 21, 22, and 23 in order to activate a relay coil 24, Upon energization of the relay coil 24, a first set of relay contacts 24a is closed so as to bypass the normally open pushbutton 23.

Coincident with the closing of the first set of contacts 24a, a second set of contacts 24h is closed which delivers current to a solenoid valve 18a interposed in the hydraulic line to the main cylinder and piston rod unit 18. This operates to retract the piston rod of the cylinder and piston rod 18 and, thus, move the sub-carriage 16 toward the impression cylinder 10.

Also coincident with the closing of the contacts 24a and 24h is the opening of the contacts 24e. This removes any current from the time delay relay 25 which is associated with a second solenoid valve 19a and which in turn is interposed in the hydraulic line to the auxiliary cylinder and piston rod unit 19.

When it is time to stop printing and it is desired to cause the ink applicator unit to break-away from the central impression cylinder 10, the pushbutton 22 is depressed removing current from the main relay 24. This opens the relay contacts 24a and 24h causing the main cylinder and piston rod unit 18 to extend and move the sub-carriage 16 away from the central impression cylinder 10. This establishes the gap C. Simultaneously therewith, the relay contacts 24C close and this action delivers current to the time delay relay 25 to close its contacts 25a and thus deliver current to the second solenoid valve 19a. This energizes the auxiliary cylinder and piston rod unit 19 causing the same to retract and oppose the action of the main cylinder and piston rod 1S.

Thus, at the time the pushbutton 22 is depressed, only the gap C is created by virtue of eliminating the gap A as seen in FIG. 3. The activation of the auxiliary cylinder and piston rod unit 19 maintains the gap B, so as to continue the plate cylinder 12 and impression cylinder 10 in kissing contact as at B in FIG. 3. As indicated previously, this will be for at least about one revolution of the plate cylinder 12 after which the time delay relay `25 cle-energizes opening the contacts 25a and deactivates the auxiliary cylinder and piston rod unit 19. When this occurs, the main cylinder and piston rod unit 18 is unopposed and then moves the sub-carriage 16 further to the left (in the illustration given) and by virtue of its engagement with the main carriage 17 at a moves the latter also to the left to eliminate the gap B and achieve the contact b, i.e., configuration seen in FIG. 2.

The auxiliary cylinder and piston rod unit 19 is seen to include a cylinder portion 26 pivotally mounted as at 27 on the frame 11. In like fashion the cylinder and piston rod unit 18 includes a cylinder portion 28 pivotally mounted on the frame 11 as at 29. The piston rod portion 30 associated with the cylinder 28 is articulated as at 31 by virtue of a pivotal interconnection with a link 32. The link 32 is itself pivoted as at 33 on the frame 11. This articulated arrangement makes possible the deposition of the cylinder portion 28 associated with the main cylinder and piston rod unit in a number of different positions depending upon the particular color station. Thus far, the description has dclt with only the color station generally designated 34 which is essentially in line with the hor-izontal center line of the central impression cylinder 10. A second color station is shown in FIG. 1 (in the lower lefthand corner) and designated generally by the numeral 134. This is arranged substantially the same as the middle color station 34, comprising a plate cylinder 112, a transfer roll 113 and a fountain roll 144 along with the fountain 115. For moving the sub-carriage 116, there is provided a cylinder and piston rod unit generally designated 118 which is seen to include a link 132. In the case of the lower station 134, the piston rod unit 118 is not connected to the pivot 131, but instead is connected to the lower end of the link 132 by virtue of the bracket 135. This permits positioning of the cylinder portion of the main cylinder and piston rod unit 118 to the lower left and above the floor line. In the case of each of the stations 34 and 134, a connecting rod as at 36 and 136, respectively, connects the links 32 and 132, respectively, to the sub-carriages 16 and 116. Also relative to the lower section 134 an auxiliary cylinder and piston rod unit generally designated 119 is arranged substantially the same as the auxil-iary cylinder and piston rod unit 19 relative to the main carriage 17.

Because of the compact arrangement of this press, it was advantageous to position the cylinder 18 inside the frame on the operator side and outside the frame on the other side. The rods 36 and 136 are in the center of each frame. Thus, the pivot 33 carries two arms, one for the piston rod connection and one for the rod 36 connection. Both arms are clamped tothe pivot shaft 33 so that they move as a unit. This yields freedom to place the cylinder 18 on the lower color wherever space arrangements render more feasible.

The printing mechanism fragmentarily illustrated in FIG. 1 is a six-color press, with three stations arranged on each side of the vertical center line of the central irnpression cylinder 10. For example, the bracket 235 associated with a main cylinder and piston rod unit (not shown) for the upper station (also not shown) is seen in the upper central portion of FIG. 1. For each station, there is provided a guide link as at 37 relative to the station 34 interconnecting the sub-carriage 16 with the frame 11-the latter connection being a sliding connection by virtue of a guide roller 38. Also, each color section or station is equipped with its own drive as at 140 relative to the plate cylinder 112 of the lower color station 134. Also relative to the station 134, the extremes of movement of the connecting rod 136 are shown in fragmentary form as at 136 and 136".

As in the case of my prior patent, the frame 11 provides an elongated guide as at 41 (see FIG. 2) which is oriented generally in a direction outward of the central impression cylinder 10. Slidably mounted on the guide 16 is the main carriage 17 which serves as a pedestal for the plate cylinder 12. The guide 41 also serves as a way for the subcarriage 16 which serves as a pedestal for the rotatable support of the transfer roll or cylinder 13 and the -fountain roll or cylinder 14. It will also be seen that the main cylinder and piston rod unit 18 is so oriented with respect to the longitudinal direction of the guide 41 so as to bring the transfer cylinder 13 into contact with the plate cylinder 12 and the plate cylinder 12 into contact with the impression cylinder 10 while urging the subcarriage 16 downwardly against the guide 41. Further, and following the construction previously utilized by me, there are means provided for limiting the movement of the two carriages 16 and 17 relative to the frame 11. As seen most easily in FIG. 3, a rod 42 is coupled to the main carriage 1'7 and is equipped with a collar 43.

It will be noted that the rod 42 is threaded and this is employed in conjunction with a threaded bore 44 (see FIG. 1) for positioning the carriage 17 for different sized plate cylinders 12. The positioning is achieved through rotating a gear 45 (still referring to FIG. l) mounted on the extreme end of the rod 42 by means of a worm 46 equipped with a hand wheel 47.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention `for the purpose of explanation, many variations in the details herein given may be seen by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a printing mechanism, a frame, an impression cylinder rotatably carried on Said frame, elongated guide means on said frame oriented generally in a direction outward of said cylinder, pedestal means for a plate cylinder slidably mounted in said guide means, pedestal means for a transfer cylinder also mounted in said guide means and above the plate cylinder pedestal means, a plate cylinder rotatably mounted on said plate cylinder pedestal means, a transfer cylinder rotatably mounted on said transfer cylinder pedestal means, a Huid pressure cylinder unit connected between said frame and the transfer cylinder pedestal means, said cylinder unit being so oriented with respect to the longitudinal direction of said guide means as to bring said transfer Cylinder into contact with said plate cylinder and said plate cylinder into contact with said impression cylinder while urging said transfer cylinder pedestal means downward against said guide means, means on said plate cylinder pedestal means limiting the movement of said transfer cylinder pedestal means relative to said plate cylinder pedestal means, means on said frame limiting the movement of said plate cylinder means to said frame, said cylinder unit being reversely operative to separate said cylinders only sufficiently t0 avoid transfer therebetween, a second cylinder unit interconnected between said frame and said plate cylinder pedestal means, and means including a time delay member operatively associated with said second cylinder unit for maintaining said plate cylinder in contact with a web traveling with said impression cylinder for about one revolution of said plate cylinder after actuation of the firstmentioned cylinder unit to separate said cylinders.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said first-mentioned cylinder unit includes an articulated rod interconnecting the piston portion of said unit with said transfer cylinder pedestal means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,283,003 5/1942 Frostad et al lOl-182 2,424,732 7/1947 Belluche et al lOl-247 2,855,846 10/1958 Harless et al lOl-218 2,893,310 7/1959 Johnson lOl-182 3,041,967 7/1962 Nystrand lOl-247 XR ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

J. R. FISHER, Assisfant Examiner. 

1. IN A PRINTING MECHANISM, A FRAME, AN IMPRESSION CYLINDER ROTATABLY CARRIED ON SAID FRAME, ELONGATED GUIDE MEANS ON SAID FRAME ORIENTED GENERALLY IN A DIRECTION OUTWARD OF SAID CYLINDER, PEDESTAL MEANS FOR A PLATE CYLINDER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID GUIDE MEANS, PEDESTAL MEANS FOR A TRANSFER CYLINDER ALSO MOUNTED IN SAID GUIDE MEANS AND ABOVE THE PLATE CYLINDER PEDESTAL MEANS, A PLATE CYLINDER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLATE CYLINDER PEDESTAL MEANS, A TRANSFER CYLINDER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID TRANSFER CYLINDER PEDESTAL MEANS, A FLUID PRESSURE CYLINDER UNIT CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FRAME AND THE TRANSFER CYLINDER PEDESTAL MEANS, SAID CYLINDER UNIT BEING SO ORIENTED WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID GUIDE MEANS AS TO BRING SAID TRANSFER CYLINDER INTO CONTACT WITH SAID PLATE CYLINDER AND SAID PLATE CYLINDER INTO CONTACT WITH SAID IMPRESSION CYLINDER WHILE URGING SAID TRANSFER CYLINDER PEDESTAL MEANS DOWNWARD AGAINST SAID GUIDE MEANS, MEANS ON SAID PLATE CYLINDER PEDESTAL MEANS LIMITING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID TRANSFER CYLINDER PEDESTAL MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID PLATE CYLINDER PEDESTAL MEANS, MEANS ON SAID FRAME LIMITING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATE CYLINDER MEANS TO SAID FRAME, SAID CYLINDER UNIT BEING REVERSELY OPERATIVE TO SEPARATE SAID CYLINDERS ONLY SUFFIFIENTLY TO AVOID TRANSFER THEREBETWEEN, A SECOND CYLINDER UNIT INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FRAME AND SAID PLATE CYLINDER PEDESTAL MEANS, AND MEANS INCLUDING A TIME DELAY MEMBER OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SECOND CYLINDER UNIT FOR MAINTAINING SAID PLATE CYLINDER IN CONTACT WITH A WEB TRAVELING WITH SAID IMPRESSION CYLINDER FOR ABOUT ONE REVOLUTION OF SAID PLATE CYLINDER AFTER ACTUATION OF THE FIRSTMENTIONED CYLINDER UNIT TO SEPARATE SAID CYLINDERS. 